Keck observatory laser guide star adaptive optics discovery and characterization of a satellite to the large kuiper belt object 2003 EL 61

M. E. Brown; A. H. Bouchez; D. Rabinowitz; R. Sari; C. A. Trujillo; M. Van Dam; R. Campbell; J. Chin; S. Hartman; E. Johansson; R. Lafon; D. Le Mignant; P. Stomski; D. Summers; P. Wizinowich

doi:10.1086/497641

Keck observatory laser guide star adaptive optics discovery and characterization of a satellite to the large kuiper belt object 2003 EL ₆₁

M. E. Brown, A. H. Bouchez, D. Rabinowitz, R. Sari, C. A. Trujillo, M. Van Dam, R. Campbell, J. Chin, S. Hartman, E. Johansson, R. Lafon, D. Le Mignant, P. Stomski, D. Summers, P. Wizinowich

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

The newly commissioned laser guide star adaptive optics system at Keck Observatory has been used to discover and characterize the orbit of a satellite to the bright Kuiper Belt object 2003 EL₆₁. Observations over a 6 month period show that the satellite has a semimajor axis of 49,500 ± 400 km, an orbital period of 49.12 ± 0.03 days, and an eccentricity of 0.050 ± 0.003. The inferred mass of the system is (4.2 ± 0.1) × 10²¹ kg, or ∼32% of the mass of Pluto and 28.6% ± 0.7% of the mass of the Pluto-Charon system. Mutual occultations occurred in 1999 and will not occur again until 2138. The orbit is fully consistent neither with one tidally evolved from an earlier closer configuration nor with one evolved inward by dynamical friction from an earlier more distant configuration.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L45-L48
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	632
Issue number	1 II
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/497641
State	Published - Oct 10 2005
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Comets: general
Infrared: solar system
Minor planets, asteroids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1086/497641

Cite this

Brown, M. E., Bouchez, A. H., Rabinowitz, D., Sari, R., Trujillo, C. A., Van Dam, M., Campbell, R., Chin, J., Hartman, S., Johansson, E., Lafon, R., Le Mignant, D., Stomski, P., Summers, D., & Wizinowich, P. (2005). Keck observatory laser guide star adaptive optics discovery and characterization of a satellite to the large kuiper belt object 2003 EL ₆₁. Astrophysical Journal, 632(1 II), L45-L48. https://doi.org/10.1086/497641

Brown, ME, Bouchez, AH, Rabinowitz, D, Sari, R, Trujillo, CA, Van Dam, M, Campbell, R, Chin, J, Hartman, S, Johansson, E, Lafon, R, Le Mignant, D, Stomski, P, Summers, D & Wizinowich, P 2005, 'Keck observatory laser guide star adaptive optics discovery and characterization of a satellite to the large kuiper belt object 2003 EL ₆₁', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 632, no. 1 II, pp. L45-L48. https://doi.org/10.1086/497641

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abstract = "The newly commissioned laser guide star adaptive optics system at Keck Observatory has been used to discover and characterize the orbit of a satellite to the bright Kuiper Belt object 2003 EL61. Observations over a 6 month period show that the satellite has a semimajor axis of 49,500 ± 400 km, an orbital period of 49.12 ± 0.03 days, and an eccentricity of 0.050 ± 0.003. The inferred mass of the system is (4.2 ± 0.1) × 1021 kg, or ∼32% of the mass of Pluto and 28.6% ± 0.7% of the mass of the Pluto-Charon system. Mutual occultations occurred in 1999 and will not occur again until 2138. The orbit is fully consistent neither with one tidally evolved from an earlier closer configuration nor with one evolved inward by dynamical friction from an earlier more distant configuration.",

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author = "Brown, {M. E.} and Bouchez, {A. H.} and D. Rabinowitz and R. Sari and Trujillo, {C. A.} and {Van Dam}, M. and R. Campbell and J. Chin and S. Hartman and E. Johansson and R. Lafon and {Le Mignant}, D. and P. Stomski and D. Summers and P. Wizinowich",

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AU - Trujillo, C. A.

AU - Van Dam, M.

AU - Campbell, R.

AU - Chin, J.

AU - Hartman, S.

AU - Johansson, E.

AU - Lafon, R.

AU - Le Mignant, D.

AU - Stomski, P.

AU - Summers, D.

AU - Wizinowich, P.

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AB - The newly commissioned laser guide star adaptive optics system at Keck Observatory has been used to discover and characterize the orbit of a satellite to the bright Kuiper Belt object 2003 EL61. Observations over a 6 month period show that the satellite has a semimajor axis of 49,500 ± 400 km, an orbital period of 49.12 ± 0.03 days, and an eccentricity of 0.050 ± 0.003. The inferred mass of the system is (4.2 ± 0.1) × 1021 kg, or ∼32% of the mass of Pluto and 28.6% ± 0.7% of the mass of the Pluto-Charon system. Mutual occultations occurred in 1999 and will not occur again until 2138. The orbit is fully consistent neither with one tidally evolved from an earlier closer configuration nor with one evolved inward by dynamical friction from an earlier more distant configuration.

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